Launching your career in Canada could be life-changing. This huge country is home to some of the world's biggest businesses, all looking to hire the brightest and best talent they can find. Whatever your background, that could mean you. From coast to coast, top jobs across every imaginable industry are on offer here, for graduates and experienced workers alike. So, whatever your area of interest, take some inspiration from our guide to the top employers in Canada.
Royal Bank of Canada
As the biggest business in the country, the international bank RBC is undoubtedly one of Canada's top employers. Around 70,000 people work for the company nationally across its retail and corporate divisions, serving millions of clients around the world. With more than 1,100 local branches and 150 years of history, it provides a firm foundation for any career.
The RBC graduate scheme is diverse, with specialised pathways for accountants, financial analysts and others. Each one offers a comprehensive introduction to different areas of the business, with close support from experienced colleagues. Some of these people will have once been graduate employees themselves, making them the perfect guides to the company.
Alternatively, you could look into the rest of the group known as the Big Five banks in Canada. A good place to start could be TD Bank, which has rivalled RBC as the country's biggest in recent years. The organisation currently employs more people than RBC, and offers 10-week summer internships, in addition to varied graduate opportunities.
Alberta Health Services
In Canada, the job of providing publicly funded healthcare is given to a large network of regional organisations. These range in size considerably, but the biggest is the one responsible for the entire province of Alberta. Giving care to its population of almost five million, Alberta Health Services employs more than 111,000 people.
The roles they fulfil are among the most in-demand jobs in Canada, including everything from nurse to neurosurgeon. You don't even need to be a medical specialist to work in this area. Administrative staff such as secretaries are an important part of any successful healthcare service.
If you would rather work elsewhere in the country, there is plenty of opportunity. Healthcare staff of all levels and descriptions are needed nationwide. Other large healthcare employers include the University Health Network in Ontario. In addition to being Canada's biggest health research group, this University of Toronto-affiliated organisation runs several hospitals – some of which are world-leading.
Shopify
If you have ever purchased something online, there is a good chance that you have used Shopify's systems. Launched in 2006, the e-commerce pioneer provides the infrastructure that enables millions of businesses worldwide to sell their goods on the internet. It has quickly become one of Canada's most successful businesses, with more than 8,000 employees.
Appropriately for an innovative tech organisation, a large amount of these employees work remotely, all over the world. Shopify operates a digital-first policy, allowing its staff to make almost anywhere their office. Whether they are working in data science, digital marketing or product design, the choice is theirs.
As you might expect, Canada is also home to major divisions of some even bigger tech businesses. Meta, Apple and Google are just some of the household names that hire in the country.
Magna International
This leading automobile parts manufacturer lives up to its name, with more than 175,000 employees across every continent. Almost 19,000 are based in the company's home of Canada, working to make everything from roof racks to EV batteries. Graduates throughout STEM are wanted here – especially those in engineering – but Magna's diverse operations require the expertise of others, too.
The company regularly runs structured programmes for people early in their careers. These take the form of apprenticeships, co-op programmes and internships. Although they do not run a graduate scheme, they are always keen to hire and support newly qualified workers.
Everyone who joins Magna will contribute to the development of parts that are used by some of the most famous names in the automotive industry. Companies including Ford, Mercedes and Tesla all rely on their work. If any of those grab your attention, we have even better news – each one also offers jobs in Canada.
CGI
The world of consultancy can feel obscure from the outside, but put simply, it involves solving problems for organisations of all kinds. That could mean helping businesses, governments or charities with anything from their finances to their computer systems. It is on the latter that Canada's CGI are global experts.
The company operates in fields as diverse as healthcare and aerospace, helping to develop and implement solutions on a massive scale. If you join its 11,000 employees in Canada, you could be working on projects that enable people to vote digitally in elections, or satellites to be sent into space. The possibilities are endless.
Given the nature of CGI's work, its graduate scheme places emphasis on tech skills. That means they are particularly interested in students of IT and computer science. If you would like to get into consultancy, but would prefer something with a different focus, there are alternatives. Canada is also home to major offices of each of the Big 4 accounting firms: Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC.
WSP
Another Canadian consulting firm, WSP is world-renowned for its construction expertise. Headquartered in Montreal, it employs 12,000 people in its home country, and 66,000 globally. Together, they have been responsible for some incredible developments, including the renovated BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
WSP regularly hire for graduate roles in Canada. So, if you have an engineering degree of any kind, they could have a place for you. Graduates of related fields such as environmental science and town planning may also find a home there, while even those from less closely connected ones such as marketing are needed, too.
Of course, there are also many other engineering powerhouses among the top employers in Canada. AtkinsRéalis is another of the world's biggest construction companies, undertaking an astounding range of projects. Also headquartered in Montreal, it has more than 7,000 employees in the country.
Bell
Named after its founder, the telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell, this 144-year-old company is one of Canada's biggest telecommunications providers. If you use the internet, watch television or make a phone call in the country, Bell's 45,000 local employees may be the ones making it possible.
The company describes its offering for graduates as a leadership programme, and this reflects its focus on preparing new employees for a bright future. Specialist pathways for areas including IT, finance and HR will each set you up for a managerial role, with responsibility being given alongside support from experienced colleagues.
Not content with just providing communications infrastructure, the business also operates some of Canada's biggest TV and radio broadcasters through its Bell Media division. So, if you are keen to ride the airwaves, it could be a name that rings with you.
Suncor
Oil remains big business in Canada, which is why Calgary-based Suncor is one of its most successful companies. It employs around 15,000 people nationally across the areas of oil discovery, refining and trading. This means that it looks for employees with specialist scientific knowledge, as well as business acumen. The company's graduate scheme covers areas including engineering, accounting and marketing, and typically runs for two or three years.
If you would prefer to focus on more sustainable energy sources, Canada also has a growing renewables sector. Brookfield Renewable, Canadian Solar and Siemens Gamesa are just some of the names to explore in the country.
Do you feel inspired by our list of top employers in Canada? You may now wonder what you can do to reach them. Start with our beginner's guide to studying in Canada. Then, discover how to find a graduate career in Canada, and how to apply for a post-graduation work permit. If you'd like to look elsewhere, explore the top employers around the world.
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